LIVER STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

Abstract

The liver is involved in the digestion and absorption of food in humans and
animals. The liver is the largest parenchymal organ in the body and consists of 300
billion liver cells. The size and weight of the liver is up to one and a half kilograms,
or about 5% of the total human mass. The liver performs over 500 functions in the
body. The main function of the liver is filtration, which removes toxic substances
from the blood. The liver stores nutrients in the blood for use when needed. Liver
diseases are insidious at a curable stage. Symptoms begin to be felt with significant
damage to the liver and the occurrence of serious disorders. Among the common
and dangerous pathologies of this organ, cirrhosis of the liver occupies one of the
leading places.